Flushing-tank for water-closets.



No. 660,0'8. Patented not. 23, |900..

c. J. BALL. FLUSHING TANK FR WATER- CLDSETS.

(Applicatinn med May 11, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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nu.` 66o,|78. Patented out. 23, |900.

c. .1., BALL. I FLUSHING TANK FUR WATER CLOSETS. (Application led May 11, 1900.) y

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED `STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

FLUSHING-TANK FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters Patent No. 660,178, dated October 23, 1900. I

Application filed May 11,1900. Serial No. 16,325. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern.- A

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. BALL, a resident of Los Angeles, California, have in# vented a new and useful Improvement in Flushing-Tanks for Water-Closets, which invention is fully set forth in the .following specification.

My invention relates to iiushing-tanks for water-closets and like purposes, and more particularly to the inlet-valve controlling the supply of water to the tank and the mechanism governing the operation of said valve, together with means for securing an afterflow of water in the closet-bowl aft-er the same has been flushed.

The particular objects of the invention are to provide an inlet-valve which shall control the supply of water to the tank and at the same time secure an efficient afterfiow and to provide efficient and noiseless means for operating said valve to open and close the an inlet-valve combined with a plunger-lioat which initiates siphonic action in flushing the closetbowl, and a shifting Weight which operates at the proper moment to romptly close and retain the inlet-valve on its seat, and the present invention is designed as an improvement on the construction described in said patent. In the use of the plungerfloat and inlet-valve mechanism of the patent referred to the shifting weight for operating the inlet-valve produces more or less disagreeable noise aud shock by bumping of the shifting weight at either limit of its travel. By the present invention means are provided whereby the weight is brought gently and quietly to rest and shock and noise are practically eliminated. Furthermore, the office of the inlet-valve in the patent referred to was simply to control the inflow of waterto the flushing-tank, whereas by the present invention the inlet-valve performs the additional function of directing` and controlling the supply of water required to secure an afterflow in the closet-bowl after the lushing action has ceased.

The inventive ideas involved in my invention may receive various mechanical expressions without departing from the spirit or principle of the invention. One such me` chanical expression I have shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a flushing-tank having my invention applied thereto, parts being shown in elevation. Fig.'2 is a plan view of Fig. l on a reduced scale. Fig. 3 isa view in side elevation of a modification of the main or operating lever and shifting weight. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a flushing-tank, showing my improved inlet-valve and afterliow device cooperating with parts differing from those shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section through the inlet-valve and its casing. Fig. 6 isa horizontal section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 is a flushing-tank, which maybe1 and in this instance is, provided with a closure-block 2, of the same general character described in my patent aforementioned. Said tank is connected to a source of water-supply by the inlet-pipe 3, controlled by the inlet-valve 4, while 5 indicates the flushing-pipe, and 8 the siphon for securing the iushing action. The main operating-lever 9 is fulcrumed in any suitable manner, as on a pin 10, supported by the block 2, and said lever is iiexibly and adjustably connected to the plunger-float 11, which is in turn adj ustably connected to the long arm of the lever 12, whose short arm is in operative engagement with the inlet-Valve 4. rlhe connection of the lever 9 to the float is secured by a link or bolt 33, pivoted at one end to the top of the plunger-oat, while the opposite end passes through the lever and is secured by nuts above and below the same. As a convenient means ot connecting the plunger-float to the valve-lever 12 a link 34 is flexibly secured to said lever and has a twoeyed nut 35 on its upper end, said link being screw-threaded to enter one of said eyes, while the other receives the screw-threaded end of a rod projecting downward from the iioat. The operating-lever 9 is preferably a bent bar having the pullchain 13 connected thereto by means of an auxiliary lever 16 at one end and the other end bent, as at 14, to form a guide for the rolling weight 15, which travels on the lever as a track or way. The

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normal auxiliary lever 16 is provided with au ear 17, mounted to turn on a `pivot in Aa Aslot formed in the end of the lever 9, and has its inner end connected to the rolling weight 15 by the bifurcated rod 18, whose opposite arms are turned in at their ends 19 rollin g weight at its axis. rod 18 is such that when the parts are in their 19 and engage the shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 5,6, and '7, 2O is 4the cas-i ing of the inlet-Valve duct 21, by means of the inlet-pipe 3.

4.-, which casing ,has `a which it is attached to the valve et is firmly seated by the action of the lever 12, which is pivoted to lears 23on the side of the casing and has its short arm 24 projecting through the side of the vaivecasing `and engaging in a slot 25, formed in the vai-ve. Above the valve-seat 22 the valve casing is each other b y wardlyprojecting partitions 28 28.

tank, and the chamber 27 Wardly-projecting d uct 3Q,

Figs. 1 and 4;, or at seine other convenient, point. Preferably the aiiterlow-pipe is carried above the normal level of the water in heforedischarging intothe iiushingpipe, thereby avoiding any 'liability of leakage from, the tank .around the valve andv the tank 31 into the inshing-pi pe.

through the pipe The operation position shown in Fig. 13 first operates to turn the auxiliary lever the pull on the chain sition, the movement of the weight 1.5 toward the i'ulcrum 10 of the lever 9 is ar,reste.d,and the continued `pull on the chain depresses the arm of `the lever 9, to which .the plunger-loat the arm suppont- The depression of .the plunger-floatinitiates siphonic action and aty the same time depresses the long arm of the is connected, and elevates ing the weight 15.

valve-lever 12 and raises the short `arm ther@- of, thereby 'lifting the inlet-valve from .its

seat, whereupon water enters the valve-cas-` ing from the inlet-pipe `and dividing flows;

into `chambers 26 and 27. From chamber 26 the water is emptied through spout `29 into the tank, and from chamber 27 the water passes through pipe 31 into the flushing-pipe The length of the;

position (shown in full lines in Fig. j 1) the weight is held out of contact with the curve at the end of the lever 9, as is clearly.

This duct has a valve-seat, 22 formed at its inner end, upon which seat provided with two chambers 26 and 27, Fig. 6, which are normallyseparated.from the seated valve and ntwo in-l` Thej chamber 26 communicates through `a spout 29 directly with the interior of the flushingopens into an .up-f to which Athe afterF l flow-pipe 31, Figs. 1 and 4., is connected.

This pipe 3l leads to the ilush'iug-pipe either; through the crown of the sip,ho`n,.as shown in has `.ceased to close `the seal .and of the device .as thus fardescribed is as follows: The parts being in .the

1, a pull on the chain and is thence conducted to the bowl. The flow `of water through pipe `31 may be determined "by the s'ize of the pipe, as in Fig. 1, or a cock 32 may be provided for that purpose, `as in Fig. 4. When the lever 9 has been fully depressed and the siphonic action inixtiated, :the chain is .released and, ithe lever being tilted into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the weight 15 continues its `movement toward the `fulcrum 10, thereby throwing the auxiliary lever 16 into the dotted-line position of Fig. 1. When the auxiliary lever reaches this last 'last-named position, the rolling weight 10 is again arrested, this time just before it comes in contact with the curved portion V33 of `the lever), in which position it is soclose to .the fulcrum 10 that its weight `does not overcome the yweigl-itoi" the .opposite of ithe lever 9.a.nd the parts connected thereto .until the rise of the water in the .tank .tilts the lever, so .that the arm bearing the weight 15 is slightly inclined .away from the fulcrum 19, when the weight lquickly returns `to its `.normal ,position (full lines, Fig. 1) .and operates through the lever 9, plunger-Heat l1., and lever 12 to rinlyseat the inlet-valve. When the Weight `thus 1returns to its normal position, it iis prevented from .striking against the curved .end of its track on the lever 9 bythe forked ,rod 18, Whicharrests it ujust before it Reaches .theend of its track. It will .thns .he seen that the weight is .brought .to rest at both extremes of its `movfilment quietly and without shock. It will .also ,be observed that the .atterlow continues during the .entire time the Atank is being filled and at any desired rate, so that il' the bowl has been .emptied or .the .trapseal broken ,bythe illushingaction sufficient water l.will be supplied after the flushingaction leave the desired amoimt of water in the bowl When the .in letvalve isclosecl, thechambers 26and 27 `are entirely .shut off from each other, being .separated by `the partitions 2 8 28 and the valve fl. In .the absence oi' packing `there maybe `a leakage past the valve from one chamber to .the other.; but where the atterfloW-pipe is .carried toa point above the `high- Waiter level in the .tanksuch leakage ifroni one `.chamber to .the other can-not result .in any flow .of Water through the attention/pipe tothe flushing-pipe after the inlet-valve is closed. If, however., the afteriiow-pipe is not carried .above the high-water level .in the tank betere 4ce in n1 unicatin g with the l ushi n gpipe, a 'leakage is liable to occur unless the inlet- Valve .is packed.

In Fing. .3 I have ,shown a modification `oi the weight-controlling device ,in which, instead .of `the auxiliary lever 16 I employ a iiexible .cord 36 passing over a pulley or .roller 3.7 on the end of lever 9, one end `of the cord being connected to the chain land the other end .to a `hail 3S, attached to a roller 39, `moving on the outward arm ofthe lever The forked rod 18 isattached to `the ro1ler39, and

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esente t when a downward pull is exerted on the chain 13 the parts assume the dotted-line posit-ion and the rigidity of the rod 18 prevents any bumping of the weight 15 at the fulcrum 10.

While in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have shown my improved inlet-valve and aftertlow mechanism operating in connection with a lever, a plunger-float, and Shifting Weight I do not desire to be understood-as limiting my invention to this specic combination, as siphonic action may be initiated in any practical manner and a lioat-r-such as float 40, Fig. 4-relied upon to open the inlet-valve by its descent with the water and to close said valve by its buoyancy as the tank is again filled with water.

I have also shown in Figs. 1 and 4 an airvalve 41, communicating wit-h the Siphon at a point above any water that may be in said siphon, and a weight 42, connected by suitable leverage with said valve in such way that the weight will act to lift the valve and break the vacuum in the Siphon just before the water-level in the tank sinks below the mouth of the short leg of the Siphon, thereby avoiding the disagreeable gurgle and suction occurring at. the close of the flushing action. The air-valve is closed by its own weight when the rise of the water in the tank acts to partially support the weight 42, the weight of the valve 4l being supplemented, if necessary, by an adjustable Weight 43, Fig. 4, to enable it to overbalance the weight 42 When the latter is in the Water. While I have shown this air-valve and its connected parts, I have not claimed it herein, as thev same forms the subject-matter of my accompanying application, Serial No. 16,326.

It will be understood that while I have herein described my improved device with minuteness and in detail, I have done so only for the purpose of clearly explaining my invention and do not desire to limit myself to the specific arrangement and proportions of parts, as these may be varied without departing from the Spirit or principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- I 1. The combination with a flushing-tank, of an inlet water-valve, a casing therefor having two separate chambers communicating when said valve is open and separated by the inlet valve when the latter is closed, and means automatically opening and closing Said valve.

2. The combination with a flushing tank and pipe, of an inlet-valve casing having two separate chambers, a valve simultaneously admitting water to both chambers when open but separating the chambers when closed, an outlet from one chamber to the tank, and an outlet from the other chamber to the flushing-pipe.

3. The combination with a flushing tank and pipe, of an inlet-Valve casing having two chambers therein, an inlet-pipe communicating withksaid chambers, an inlet-valve controlling the admission of water from said pipe and preventingcommunication between said chambers when the valve is closed, means automatically opening and closing said valve, and a discharge-opening from one of said chambers into the tank and from the other chamber into the flushing-pipe.

4. The combination with a flushing-tank, of means discharging water therefrom, deL vices admitting water thereto, a main operating-lever controlling said means and devices, a shifting weight on said lever, an auxiliary lever fulcrumed on said main lever and connections between said weight and auxiliary lever.

5. The combination with the flushing tank I auxiliary lever fulcrumed on the other arm, v

connections between said weight and auxiliary lever, and a pull-chain also connected to said auxiliary lever.

6. The combination with a flushing-tank, and its operating mechanism, of a main operating-lever having a shifting weight on .one arm, an auxiliary lever fulcrumed on the other arm, and connections between said weight and auxiliary lever.

7. In a flushing-tank the combination Wit the main operating-lever, of a shifting weight on one arm of said lever, means for tilting said lever, and means controlling the shifting movements of said weight when the lever is tilted.

8. The combination with the main operating-lever, of a shifting weight on one arm of said lever, a rod connected to said weight and means controlling the shifting movements of said rod and weight. l

9. The combination with the main operating-lever, of a shifting weight on one arm of said lever, an auxiliary lever fulcrumed on the other arm thereof, and a bifurcated rod connected to said auxiliary lever and embracing said weight.

10. The combination with the main operating-lever, of a shifting weight on one arm of said lever, an auxiliary lever pivoted on the other arm thereof so as to lie above or below t-he same, a rigid connection between the weight and auxiliary lever, and a pull-chain connected to the auxiliary lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. J. BALL.

Witnesses:

D. C. WHEARTY, WM. W. STRoUsE.

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